Klaus Bargsten
German WW2 U-Boat commander
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Klaus Bargsten (31 October 1911 – 25 October 2000) was the captain and sole survivor of the sunken German submarine U-521. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Klaus Bargsten | |
|---|---|
Klaus Bargsten | |
| Born | 31 October 1911 |
| Died | 25 October 2000 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Kriegsmarine |
| Service years | 1936–45 |
| Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
| Unit | 1st U-boat Flotilla 2nd U-boat Flotilla 4th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands | U-563, 27 March 1941 – 15 March 1942 U-521, 3 June 1942 – 2 June 1943 |
| Awards | U-boat War Badge Knight's Cross |
Career
U-521 under Bargsten's command was sunk on 2 June 1943 by the United States submarine chaser PC-565 east of Cape Hatteras. Bargsten was the sole survivor.
Bargsten was interrogated and held as a prisoner of war until his release in 1946. The Kriegsmarine falsely reported the entire crew of U-521 as missing in action.[1]
Ranks and military decorations
Ranks
The following is a list of dates for Kptlt. Bargsten's promotions during World War II.
Decorations
The following is a list of Kptlt. Bargsten's awards and decorations.
| Date | Decoration |
|---|---|
| 23 July 1940 | Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class[3] |
| 10 August 1940 | U-boat War Badge (1939)[3] |
| 25 September 1940 | Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class[3] |
| 30 April 1943 | Knight's Cross as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-521[4][5] |
